Metal-table-top stretcher



Aug. 14, 1923 1,4fi4.911@

O. LANDAW METAL TABLE TOP STRETCHER Filed Feb. 25, 1922 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 J9 5 21: v g I .921 2% i/7 U i/ f 15 v 7 r l 57 ,7 4r r 5 Aug. 14, 1923. HAM-.91 9

o. LANDAW METAL TABLE TOP STRETCHER Filed Feb. 25, 1922 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 gnwvkoz 1 Wm L Patented a 14, 1923..

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IVIETAL-TABLE-TOP STRETCHER.

Application filedl ebruary 25, 1922. Serial No. 538,316.

' o ail whom it may concern:

,Be 1t known that I, OAK LANDAW, a citizen of the Un ted States, and a resident of 'Nappanee, in the county of Elkhart and 'State ofIndia-na, have invented a new and useful Improvement in a Metal-Table-Top I Stretcher, of which the following is a specification.

I My invention is a metaltable top or sink cover stretcher and its principal object is to provide a'device which will stretch the sheet metal foiiningthe table top or sink cover to remove the bow or bulge therefrom metal top to expand parallel thereto whilethe'long'itudinal or side rails of the top or cover are held by means of a jack or other device againstthe sides of the table top or cover, the side rails being permanently secured in this position by means of transverse braces.

that includes a sheet metalholding table and pivoted clamping bars for clamping the sheet metal in outstretched condition and V which are automatically swungto inoperative position after the sheet metal hasbeen operated upon; p

Still another object of the invention is to provide a metal table top stretcher which embodies a rectangular shim for inter'position between the table top and the supporting base therefor whereby to prevent the 12 are arranged at an angle as shown in dotted lines inFig. 1 and then driven home to extend transversely of the table top as shown in Fig. .1.

usual bead around the edgesof the tabletop from being crushed by the pressure of the .45 clamping bars;

With the preceding and other objects and advantages in mind, the invention consists in the novel combination of'elements, constructions, operations and specific, details to 5 be hereinafter fully referred to, claimed and illustrated in the accompanying drawings, wherein: V

Figure 1 is atop plan viewof the device holding table top in working position, the

view taken on line 2-2 of Fig. 1'

It is also fan object of the invention to provlde 'a sheet metal stretchlng mechanism dotted line position of one of the transverse braces illustrates the manner in which the braces are engaged with the table top frame; Fig. 2 is a vertical longitudinal sectional 7 Fig. 8 is a vertical transverse sectional view taken on line of'Fig. 1 and show ing anexpanding jack engaging the side- TZLllS of the table top for holdlng the latter in position while the same are being permanently fastened in place; and 6 Fig. at is a perspective of the table top frame disassembled.

Referring in detail to the drawings, wherein like characters of reference designate like parts throughout the several views, the numeral '5 designates a table or base upon which the metal table top or sink cover is supported. Secured to the supporting table orbase 5 are right-angularly extending rails 6 and 7, the purpose of which is to position the table top correctly on the base or supporting table 5.

In table tops of this character the sheet metal top indicated at 8 is mounted on a frame designated inits'entirety at 9. As showin particularly in Fig. 4, this frame includes end members 10, side rails 11 and transverse braces 12. The side rails 11 are slidably associated with the end members 10 by means of tongue and groove connections 13 while the opposite faces of the side rails 11 are provided with longitudinal grooves 14. for the reception of tongues 15 on the ends of the transverse members 12.

In accordance with my invention, the end members 10 are clamped to the supporting table 5 and by means of a jack the side rails 11 are expanded or moved away from each other and thereby stretch the table top and remove the bow or bulge. therefrom. \Vhile in this position the transverse braces the table 5. Clamping bars 21 are attached to the opposite ends of the arms 18 and have their free ends formed with handles 22. In order to hold the clamping bars in clamped engagement with the end members oi the frame 9 latch elements 23 are provided. These latch elements 23 extend. through slots 2st and have their upper ends threat ..d to receive wing nuts 25. The lower ends of the latch elements A3 are formed with beveled extensions 26 which engage the under face of the supporting table 5 as shown in Fig. 3. It will be seen that upon tightening the wing nuts the clampiiig bars 21 will exert downward pressure on the metal table top 8 and spread the same transversely. Then by means of the expaudingv jack 27 the side rails 11 will be moved away from each other and. the transverse members 12 engaged therewith as above outlined.

in order to prevent the heading extendin earound the edges of the metal tabletop S from being crushed due to the downward pressure of the clamping; bars 21 a rectangular shim 28' of a thickness equal to the height of the heading" is interposed between the supporting" table 5 and the metal table top 8 as shown in lt'igs. 2 and 3.

It is to be understood that the form of my invention herein shown and described is to be taken as a preferred example of the same, and that various changes, in the shape, size and arrangement of parts may be resorted to without departing from the spirit of the invention or the scope of the subjoined claims.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new and desire to secure and protect by Letters Patent of the United States is:

1. The method of manufacturing; sheet metal table tops, consisting of assembling the top with a rectangular frame whose side rails are capable of sliding movement away from each other, applying pressure to the end members of the frame. to remove the bow from the table top, then sliding; the side rails away from each other to the limit of their movement and finally placing braces between the side rails to prevent the latter from moving toward each other.

2. A metal, tabletop stretching device for a table top having a reinforcing frame comprising a base, a pair of clamping; bars pi votally connected with the. base and adapted to engage the end membersot the table top frame, latch elements carried by the free ends or". the. clamping bars for engagement with the base, and means for forcing the side rails of thetable top frame away from each other and holdingthe same in such position. until braces are ei'ig'aged between the side rails.

A device of the character described lae neio comprising a work supporting table having a base, a plurality of clamping bars pivoted thereto, adjustable latch elements carried by the free ends of the clamping bars and adapted to engage the supporting base to hold the clamping bars against the article to be operated upon.

4;, A. device of the character described comprising a work supporting table having a base. a plurality of clamping bars pivoted thereto, adjustable latch elements carried by the free ends of the clamping bars and adapted to engage the supporting base to hold the clamping bars against the article to be operated upon, and contractile springs operatively connected with the base and clamping bars and normally urging the latter to inoperative position;

' 5. A device of the character described comprising a work snpporting table having a base, a plurality of clamping bars pivoted thereto, adjustable latch elements carried by the free ends olf theclainping bars and adapted to engage. the supporting base to hold the clamping bars, against the article to be ope-rated upon, and means normally urging the clamping bars to inoperative position. 1

6. A device of the character described comprising abase, upstanding ears carried thereby, a horizontal rod supported in the ears, arms pivoted on the rod, clamping barscairied by the arms, elements carried bythe free endsof the. clamping bars adapted to engage the. base and capable of ad justment whereby to. exert pressure'on the clamping bars, and'means normally swinging the. arms away from the snpporting base. C

7 A metal table top stretcher for a table top having a reinforcing. frame comprising base, clamps associated therewith tor clamping the ends, of the table top frame to the base to spread, the former, and a shim of substantially thev same area as the table top for interposition between thesame and the, base to prevent the table top beading from being crushed. 1

8. A device of the character described comprising a work supporting table, a pair of clamping. bars pivotedthereto adapted to engage the. work arranged on the table and provided with. slots adjacent their free ends, shanks loosely passing through the slots and having their upper ends threaded,

extensions carried by the lower ends otthe shanks for engagement with the. table, wing-nuts threadec. on the upper ends of the shanks for adjustingthe clamping bars toward the table. r

9. A device of the. character described comprising. a work supporting table, a pair of clamping bars pivoted thereto adapted to engage the. work arranged. on the. table and provided with slots. iidjflfifint their tree ends, shanks loosely passing through the With the pivoted ends of the clamping bars slots and having their upper ends threaded, and with the supporting table Where-by extensions carried by the lower ends of the upon shifting the shanks laterally in the 10 shanks for engagement with the table, Wingslots the clamping bars will heswung away nuts threaded on the upper ends of the from the table.

shanks for adjusting the clamping bars to- Ward the table, and coil springs connected OAK LANDAW. 

